Economy 3 December 2025, 4:12pm

Manual workers can now earn up to HUF 1 million a month

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Next year, recruitment is expected to pick up for blue-collar workers, with a particularly large number of people looking to change jobs, according to the latest Salary & Market Guide published by Gi Group, a recruitment and temporary employment agency. The high willingness to change jobs, the start of economic growth and the increase in the minimum wage and salary may lead to higher wages next year. Many skilled and experienced blue-collar workers already earn between HUF 800,000 and 1,000,000 gross.

A survey by the recruitment agency Gi Group has revealed that

blue-collar workers are particularly open to changing jobs.

According to the latest Salary & Market Guide survey,

52% of employees are open to changing jobs, while
42% are not actively seeking work, though they would consider a good offer.
Just 6% of blue-collar workers are so satisfied with their current job that they are not open to new opportunities.

The most important argument behind the change is the prospect of better earning opportunities, due to high inflation in recent years and the decline in the purchasing power of wages. Accessibility to the workplace and good working conditions are also important to employees.

"Next year, we expect to see a significant rise in the wages of blue-collar workers. The minimum wage is set to increase by 11%, while the guaranteed wage minimum for skilled workers will rise by 7% in 2026. Even if it is in small steps, we must move closer to EU wages," said Eszter Balogh, business manager at Gi Group.

While most companies pay their employees more than the mandatory minimum wage, they must be careful not to allow congestion in the wage scale. "According to our survey, 50% of employees are open to working abroad, which pushes companies towards offering competitive wages and benefits packages," she added. The countries most popular with employees are Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

"Recruitment and hiring have declined this year due to slow economic growth. However, we expect recruitment to pick up next year as production begins on new investments and the economy returns to growth," emphasised Eszter Balogh. These factors are prompting companies to try to retain their employees, as there is mounting pressure to keep pace with competitors in the V4 countries. According to the research,

employees appreciate not only salary levels, but also receiving extra days off or healthcare services as part of their benefits package.

According to the Salary Guide, the gross starting salary for skilled, experienced blue-collar workers is now HUF 500,000–600,000. PLC technicians can earn between HUF 700,000 and HUF 1,050,000, and automation maintenance technicians can earn seven-figure salaries too. Competitive salaries are also offered to welders, CNC machine operators and maintenance technicians, especially at an experienced level, where wages reach 550,000–800,000 forints.

The salaries clearly demonstrate the importance of professional knowledge and practical experience in determining income. Meanwhile, unskilled blue-collar workers can earn between HUF 350,000 and HUF 400,000. "Their wages are close to the minimum wage and the guaranteed minimum wage, so they can expect a significant increase next year," said Balogh.

Salaries for manufacturing and logistics management positions also depend significantly on experience. Junior-level production supervisors can expect to earn between HUF 730,000 and HUF 880,000, whereas more experienced professionals may earn up to HUF 1.17 million.

Shift supervisors and production managers generally have lower salaries, ranging from HUF 470,000 to HUF 850,000, but these increase with experience. Warehouse and quality control team leaders and maintenance managers earn between HUF 600,000 and HUF 950,000.

Cover image (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images